Animated figure



May 23, 1944. w. D. EAKIN ANIMATED FIGURE Filed July 51, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w W n W.

y 23, 1944- w. D. EAKIN 2,349,492

ANIMATED FIGURE Filed July 31, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

May 23, 1944.

w. D. EAKlN 2,349,492

ANIMATED FIGURE Filed July 31, 1942 s Sheets-:Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 23, 1944 UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ANIMATED FIGURE Willard D. Eakin, Northampton Township,

, Summit County, Ohio Application July 31, 1942, Serial No. 452,980

2 Claims.

This invention relates to animated figures suitable for use as a mystery window display or as a toy, and to actuating mechanism for the same.

Its chief objects are to provide a figure adapted to mystify and amuse observers; to provide for economy of manufacture; to provide ruggedness and durability; and to provide desirable actuating mechanism for such a figure.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section, with parts in elevation, of a unicycle and rider embodying my invention in its preferred form for simple, straightline travel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective, on a large scale, of an economical axle-and-crank construction.

Fig. 4 is a, plan view of a piece of sheet metal illustrating economical procedure for providing spoke assemblies.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View made by such procedure.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modification adapted for use as a wind-up toy and adapted to travel in a circular path.

Fig. '7 is an elevation illustrating. the use of the figure as a toy or for a game.

Fig. 8 is an elevation illustrating one type of actuating mechanism for Window display purposes.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic section of a wheel.

Fig. 9A is a side elevation of another sinuouspath wheel adapted to travel in a sinuous path.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of another actuating mechanism adapted for window display purposes.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of parts of another actuating mechanism adapted for window display purposes.

Referring to the drawings, the assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a hollow wheel l0 having non-rotatably secured in its hub an axle II, a spoke-assembly I2 and centrally apertured endclosure discs l3, l4 which hide from view the parts contained within the hollow wheel.

Frame members l5, 15, having weights I6, 16 on their lower ends, are rotatably mounted on the axle ll, extend outwardly through the central holes, l1, H, of the end-closure discs l3, l4, and then upwardly and, above the wheel, are secured to, and held in spaced relation by, a stamped-metal piece l8 which constitutes the torso member of the rider, which is provided with of a spoke assembly a head I9 and with arms 20, 20 which are hinged to the torso member 18 at 2 I, 2 I.

The axle I l projects through the central holes of the end-closure discs and, outside of the hollow wheel, have secured upon them respective, oppositely extending'cranks 22, 22.

Thigh members 23, 23 are hinged to the torso member I8 at 24, 24 and their lower ends are connected by lower leg members 25, 25 with the respective crank members 22, pivoted connections being provided at 26, 26 and 21, 21.

The thigh members 23 are connected respectively to the arm members 20 by links 28, 28.

In the operation of the assembly, assuming it to be impelled by gravity or otherwise upon a supporting surface, rotation of the wheel 10 and its axle H causes the legs of the figure to move as if the rider were propelling the wheel and this, through the links 28, causes the arms to move up and down as if the rider were having difficulty in maintaining his balance.

The weights l6 maintain the figure in a generally upright position while permitting it to sway far forward and backward, in a comical manner, upon acceleration or deceleration of the assembly.

With the Weights l6 heavy and all of the other parts relatively light the assembly runs for a great distance on a smooth flooralthough given only a moderate initial velocity.

The spoke assemblies can be economically stamped from light sheet metal as illustrated in Fig. 4, then bent to the form shown in Fig. 5, and secured upon the axle H by a rivet 29. A spacer member 30 is similarly secured to the axle by a rivet 3!. The crank members 22 can be economically stamped from light sheet metal and attached to the axle as shown in Fig. 3.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 corresponds substantially to that of Figs. 1 and 2 except that a wind-up spring 32 is interposed operatively be.- tween the shell of the wheel and one of the frame members l5 for impelling the assembly as a wind-up toy, and except that the wheel has a frusto-conical tread for causing the assembly to travel in a circular path. The shell of the wheel can be economically made by tin-can methods.

For use of the assembly as a toy or for a game an inclined board 33 (Fig. 7) can be set up at one side of a room and the assembly can be impelled toward it by placing the assembly upon another board 34 at the opposite side of the room and then lifting one end of the board 34 to provide an incline for propulsion of the assembly by gravity. Skill is required for causing the assembly to hit the inclined board 33, especially if it is narrow, and to give the assembly such impetus, by means of the board 34, that it will travel only part way up the board 33 and then return to the board 34, under the impetus given by the board 33.

Fig. 8 illustrates a simple motor-driven mechanism, comprising a rocker trough 35, for giving the assembly a simple forward and backward movement, by gravity, for window display purposes.

The actuating apparatus shown in Figs. 10 and 11 comprises a peripherally flanged circular table I 36 held against excessive rotation, while permitted to Wobble, by radially disposed springs 31, 3'! connecting its margin with respective floor standards 38, 38. A rotary spider 39 is mounted under the table, on a vertical axis, and has three table-supporting arms 40, 4|, 42 of different lengths for wobbling the table as the spider'is rotated. This construction is such that, if the spider is rotated at uniform speeds, the assembly, provided .in this case with a frusto-conical wheel tread, will continuously move in a circle, at substantially uniform speed, but upon changes of speed of rotation of the spider the figure will seem to be in danger of falling off the wheel, forward and backward, with an amusing effect.

. All of the actuating mechanism except the upper surface of the table 36 can be hidden by a loose 'fabric cover 36 A like efiect can be obtained by means of the somewhat more economical apparatus shown in Fig. 12, in which a circular table 43 is hinged on a horizontal axis at 44 and is simply tilted to 'opposite inclinations alternately by means of a suitably driven pitman 45. The assembly, traveling in a curved path by reason of having a frusto-conical wheel tread, over-runs somewhat as it reaches the momentarily low side of the table and is thus headed in a direction such that it will return to the other side of the table when the table is tilted in the opposite direction. Thus a ludicrous series of stops and starts, with far forward and backward leanings, is given to the figure by simple rhythmic tilting of the table.

Amusing changes of velocity and consequent forward and backward teeterings of the figure can be had by providing one or more undulations of the table surface, as at 46.

Fig. 9 illustrates a construction adapted to cause the figure assembly to move in a sinuous path, the end-closure discs, 43*, I i of the wheel being circular. but eccentric with relation to each other. This construction is such that the figure properly leans inward. on the curve," to the left and to the right alternately, and the waving of the arms is timed with the leftward and rightward leanings.

Alternately scalloped but concentric discs, as suggested in Fig. 9A, can be employed for providing a sinuous line of travel.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated figure comprising a wheel having a peripheral wall, a hub and means rigidly connecting the hub with a part of the peripheral wall which is at a distance axially inward from the side margins of the peripheral wall, an axle fixed in the hub to rotate with the wheel, side closure members rigid with said peripheral wall, at least one of the same being formed with a central hole substantially larger than the axle, the axle projecting outward through said hole, a member rotatably mounted on the axle, extending through said hole and having a downwardly extending portion within the wheel, a weight on downward extending portion of said member and position d wholly within the Wheel, and a mechanism mounted outside of and supported wholly by the wheel, said mechanism having constant positive-drive connection with said member and with said axle and being thus adapted to be positively driven bytheir relative movement.

2. An animated figure comprising a wheel having a peripheral wall, a hub and means rigidly connecting the hub with a part of the peripheral wall which is at a distance axially inward from the side margins of the peripheral wall, an axle fixed in the hub to rotate with the wheel, side closure members rigid with said peripheral wall, at least one of the same being formed with a central hole substantially larger than the axle, the axle projecting outward through said hole, a member rotatably mounted on the axle, extending through said hole and having a downwardly extending portion within the wheel, a weight on the downwardly extending portion of said member and positioned wholly within the wheel, and a mechanism mounted outside of and supported wholly by the wheel, said mechanism having constant positive-drive connection with said member and with said axle and being thus adapted to be positively driven by their relative movement, said mechanism comprising a crank secured on the axle, a torso rigid with said member, a jointed legpivoted to the crank and to the torso on axes parallel with the axle, an arm pivoted to the torso on a fore-and-aft axis, and a link connecting the leg with the arm.

WILLARD D. EAKIN. 

